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Abstract The strict selection of pancreas for transplant has forced the development of different documents to select the suitable organ in order to minimize the risks and complications of the transplant. In 2008, Eurotransplant published the Preprocurement Pancreas Allocation Suitability Score (P-PASS) for pretransplant selection. In 2001 the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona developed a Clinical Consensus Document (CCD). Objectives We aimed to analyze the predictive decision of the pancreas acceptance to offers received in the hospital, according to the CCD criteria and compare it with the recommended value of suitability for accepting the pancreas according to the P-PASS value. Material and Methods We performed a retrospective comparative study between the criteria of selection of the CCD for pancreas from 2016–2017 in comparison with the values obtained if the P-PASS had been used: ≤ 17, acceptance criteria and P-PASS; > 17, risk criteria. We defined the organ reported as rejected or accepted. The accepted organ could be procured and transplanted or discarded. Results With the CCD criteria, 7 more organs were transplanted than if we only applied the potential P-PASS criteria. In contrast, P-PASS would have ruled out an additional 9% of pancreases in relation to CCD criteria. Conclusions According our experience, it is difficult to find an adequate prediction model to select pancreas for transplantation. The application of the DCC criteria increases the number of organs valid for transplantation. At present, new criteria should be re-evaluated within multicenter studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Postmortem tissue donation (TD) requires the establishment of strategies for family approach to clearly explain the characteristics of multi-tissue donation. In a tertiary university hospital with a long tradition of tissue generation, we designed a survey to be applied to tissue donor families to evaluate global hospital care, care from Transplant Coordinators (TC), quality and content of information given about TD, experience, and motivations after TD process. Methodology A prospective phone survey of 10 multiple-choice items was conducted to all TD relatives that agreed to donate one or more tissues. Results From the 166 calls made to TD relatives, 75 (45%) were answered: 50 were cornea donors and 25 were multiple-tissues donors. None of the relatives denied participating, the rest were not found. No statistical differences in demographical variables were found between both types of TD. The hospital and TC care perception, the quality of the given information about the processes of TD, the postdonation experiences in terms of procedures, and the impression about body appearance for relatives regardless of the type of donation, corneas or multiple tissues, were evaluated as good or very good for most of the TD relatives. Our study showed that 83% of the family members would agree to donate again; 40% of the relatives were surprised to be offered the option to donate; 10% did not know if they would donate again. Solidarity was the leading reason for TD. Conclusion The relatives' perception of care is a critical component of the quality evaluation of the TD process. The global evaluation results support our strategies for family approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: There is increasing evidence that the addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to proteins plays an important role in cell signaling pathways. In chondrocytes, accumulation of O-GlcNAc-modified proteins induces hypertrophic differentiation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by cartilage degradation, and hypertrophic-like changes in hyaline chondrocytes. However, the mechanisms responsible for these changes have not been described. Our aim was to study whether O-GlcNAcylation and the enzymes responsible for this modification are dysregulated in the cartilage of patients with knee OA and whether interleukin-1 could induce these modifications in cultured human OA chondrocytes (HOC). Design: Human cartilage was obtained from patients with knee OA and from age and sex-matched healthy donors. HOC were cultured and stimulated with the catabolic cytokine IL-1α. Global protein O-GlcNAcylation and the synthesis of the key enzymes responsible for this modification, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), were assessed by western blot. Results: OA was associated with a 4-fold increase in the global O-GlcNAcylation in the cartilage. OA cartilage showed a re-distribution of the OGT and OGA isoforms, with a net increase in the presence of both enzymes, in comparison to healthy cartilage. In HOC, IL-1α stimulation rapidly increased O-GlcNAcylation and OGT and OGA synthesis. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a proinflammatory milieu could favor the accumulation of O-GlcNAcylated proteins in OA cartilage, together with the dysregulation of the enzymes responsible for this modification. The increase in O-GlcNAcylation could be responsible, at least partially, for the re-expression of hypertrophic differentiation markers that have been observed in OA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Family denials for tissue donation are higher than denials obtained after organ donation. Objectives: To find out families'' perception toward tissue request as well as its relation with the degree of acceptance or denial. Materials and methods: Following the request for tissue donation (corneas or different tissues), a five closed-question survey was designed and immediately answered by the Transplant Coordinator. The main aim was to find out whether the request determined surprise, disapproval, understanding, knowledge, and immediacy in the decision-making process, as well as its relation with the decision to donate. Results: Of 1751 surveys, 991 were answered and collected from 2009 to 2011, which represents a 56% from the total. Data collected relate to families 510 who donated and 481 who did not (P = NS). The fact of requesting corneas only or different tissues did not influence the answers. Surprise and disapproval variables significantly predicted refusal to donation (P = .000). Conclusions: Regardless the request type (corneas or multitissue) variables influencing the decision making when approaching families are expression of surprise and disapproval. Neither understanding the application nor existence of a prior approach to donation has any influence whatsoever in the decision-making process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Defining quality assessment and measurement tools in the area of tissue donation should be considered to be one of the most important strategies for developing health centers. The aim of this project was to identify, define, and analyze a set of indicators to assess the most important steps in the tissue donor detection and generation processes. Methods A prospective, descriptive, and comparative study of all potential tissue donors (TDs) detected and generated in a university hospital was performed. All deceased patients after cardiocirculatory death were evaluated in 2015 by the transplant coordinators (TCs). We defined as detection indicators: total deaths, percentage of detection and evaluation, percentage of clinical contraindications, tissue donor potentiality (TDP; corneal or multitissue potentiality), and the functional detection time (FDT); and as generation indicators: generation rate (corneal or multitissue generation), family request time, number of interviewed relatives, and TC experience (y). Results The detection and evaluation rate was 100% ( n = 1,235); tissue clinical contraindications were 57%, and TDP was 43% ( n = 528; corneal, 80%; multitissue, 20%). The FDT was 24 ± 30 minutes. The generation rate was 53.4% ( n = 282): corneal, 57% ( n = 241); and multitissue, 40% ( n = 41). Family request time was 10 ± 17 minutes, average number of interviewed relatives was 2.2 ± 1.6, and 35% of TCs had experience in the field for >5 years. Conclusions Obtaining indicators for quality assessment in the area of tissue donation is useful in predicting the outcome of the TD process as well as promoting the approach of continuous improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One reason for the loss of donors is the impossibility to contact family members for an interview. We sought to determine the effectiveness [(donors/total deaths) × 100] and efficiency [(donors/potential donors) × 100] of the telephone interview to obtain tissue for transplant purposes. Methods: A prospective, comparative cross-sectional study was performed on the personal and telephone interviews with family members during the tissue donation application process from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005. Results: Of the 3625 deaths hospital registered, we obtained 770 potential donors (21%). On 65% of occasions (503/770), the interview was held personally; on 29% (222/770), it had to be held over the telephone; and on 6% (45/770), family members could not be located. The refusals by family members over the telephone represented 48% (106/222), and the refusals during personal interviews were 37% (188/503). A positive family answer was obtained over the telephone on 116/431 donations (27%), and in the physical presence of the coordinator for 315/431 donors (73%). The donations obtained over the telephone were only for corneas in 83% (96/116) of cases, and for multiple tissues in 17% (20/116). The donor-generation effectiveness reached 9% in personal interviews and 12% if the telephone interviews were included. The donor generation efficiency reached 43% for personal interviews and 59% when telephone interviews were included. The use of the telephone enabled a 16% increase in tissue generation with a year-on-year increase of 4%. Conclusions: The telephone has shown itself to be a useful tool for obtaining tissues postmortem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation (SKP) is a common procedure for the patient with long-term type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with terminal renal failure. It is unusual to consider the pancreas from a deceased donor who died after an acute intoxication with oral antidiabetic agent (OAA), which would suggest an abnormal functionality of the organ and preclude the potential use of the graft. We present a case of a successful pancreatic transplantation from a donor who died of acute cerebral edema secondary to severe hypoglycemia induced by OAA acute intoxication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute static tests were performed to assess Zn toxicity on adults ofCnesterodon decemmaculatus (not sexed), a neotropical fish of wide distribution in the Rio de la Plata basin. Tests were carried out withZnCl2 dissolved in natural waters from the Lower Parana River, the Rio de la Plata Estuary, reconstituted waters of similar composition, tap and distilled waters. Median lethal concentration at 24 h was positively correlated to conductivity and the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO-3 (r = 0.99, 0.96, 0.97, 0.99, p < 0.05, respectively), being higher atthe Rio de la Plata Estuary (61.2 mg l-1) than at the Lower Parana River (35.3 mg l-1). Contaminant load in the natural waters tested was similar at both sites, being Zn concentration 40 and 44 mug l-1, respectively. An assay with reconstituted water of similar alkalinity to the estuary showed a simultaneous decrease in HCO-3 and dissolved Zn, while the Znspeciation, predicted with a computer program, suggested that Zn2+ precipitated as ZnCO3. The effect of Ca2+ on Zn toxicity is also discussed. Zn toxicity was higher in the Rio de la Plata Estuary water than in synthetic water of similar ionic composition (24-h LC50 = 93.2 mg l-1), suggesting the synergistic effect of other toxic pollutants such as metals, present inthe former which were absent in the later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solvothermal route to prepare Glutathione capped hybrid ytterbium/iron oxide nanoparticles with potential applications as multiplatform contrast agent in medical image techniques has been developed. The influence of ytterbium/iron molar ratio used as precursor, as well as the degree of the autoclave filling on the structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles has been extensively studied. Although all nanoparticles present similar composition, with YbFeO 3 being the majority phase, size and morphology of the as synthetized nanoparticles are highly influenced by the critical temperature and by the over -saturation reached during the solvothermal process. We have demonstrated that glutathione properly functionalizes the hybrid nanoparticles, increasing their colloidal stability and decreasing their cytotoxicity. Additionally, they show good imaging in magnetic resonance and X-ray computerized tomography, thereby indicating promising potential as a dual contrast agent. This work presents, for the first time, glutathione functionalized ytterbium/iron oxide nanoparticles with potential applications in Biomedicine. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Donors after brain death (DBD) older than 60 years have become 46.8% of our current activity, with higher risk of renal discard rate (RDR). Assessment of kidney suitability requires complementary strategies: macroscopic evaluation, kidney biopsy score (KBS), and renal hemodynamic evaluation with the Pulsatile Perfusion Machine (PPM). Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study of kidneys procured and RDR, comparing 3 time periods: 2000 to June 2004, when only KBS were used; July 2004 to 2008 (introduction of PPM and learning period); and 2009 to 2013 (experienced use of PPM). Transplantation criteria were KBS <3 and PPM renal resistance <0.4 mm Hg/mL/min and arterial renal flow >70 mL/min. Results Between 2000 and 2013, a 59.2% reduction in DBD kidneys was observed. However, older kidneys had an increase from 33.5% to 46.8%. The RDR had increased, comparing the first to the third period from 25.4% to 38.3%. However, the RDR was lower when kidneys were evaluated with PPM than those evaluated only with KBS and preserved in cold storage (CS) (21.4% versus 43.7%). There was a significant difference in cold ischemia time, because CS kidney was grafted before PPM. During the third period, more kidneys with KBS ≥4 were assigned to PPM. Conclusions Notwithstanding the decrease in DBD-procured kidneys and the increase in older kidneys during last period, the use of PPM allowed low DR compared with CS. A bias in the results of PPM could be generated when kidneys with higher KBS were excluded from PPM. The use of KBS only to decide acceptance could preclude the use of an additional tool to evaluate suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: ObjectiveTo evaluate both the opinion that living liver donors have of the process and the psychological, economic, and social consequences of donation.: Material and methodsSix months after the donation, an anonymous survey was sent to 22 donors of the right liver lobe between March 2000 and December 2002.: Results15 surveys were returned with all of the questions answered. Almost all the donors had no prior knowledge of living donation. When they were considered to be suitable donors, all of them felt happy, 21% were scared and 15% felt joy and insecurity. The information provided was well understood and accurately described the experiences of 93% of donors. All donors understood the vital risk, and 93% understood that transplantation is not always completely successful. All donors would repeat the experience. Mean hospital stay was 12.6 days. Mean convalescence was 50.6 days. Salaried donors were on sick leave for a mean of 96.4 days (21–150 days), causing financial problems in six cases (36%), due to no financial compensation and compulsory redundancy in one case. All donors had completely recovered at six months after donation.: DiscussionAdult living donation of the right liver lobe is an accepted therapeutic alternative. In order to regulate medical and economic protection to avoid additional disturbances after donation, the public, patients, and physicians require more complete information about living donation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: ObjectiveTo evaluate the living kidney donation (LKD) process using donors'' opinions on the impact on social, emotional, and financial aspects affecting donor quality of life.: Materials and methodsFrom May 2000 to December 2002, we studied 22 donors of living kidneys at the Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain, who completed an anonymous survey 6 months after donation.: ResultsMost donors (86%) had themselves informed the recipient about their wish to donate, the other 14% were asked by family members. Eighty-eight percent stated that the information provided to the donor about the evaluation process was well explained and understood whereas 12% disagreed with the statement. At the time of thin decision, 90.5% of donors understood the vital risk. For 95%, the explanations about the process corresponded with the actual experience. One hundred percent of donors stated after donation that they would again favor it. Mean hospital stay was 6 days (range, 3–9 days). Those donors with a labor contract have been out of work for an average of 57.8 days (range, 18 days to 6 months). Twenty-five percent of donors admitted financial effects as a result of donation. All but 1 felt completely recovered with the same quality of life after donation.: DiscussionLKD is a good therapeutic alternative. Some aspects should be developed, such as more information about living donation and the need to considering donors as healthy persons without loss of earnings. Recognition of the benefits of living donation requires more wide participation of all citizens nationally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]